Over the last week hundreds of Sudanese Asylum Seekers, including 8 from Nottingham, have been rounded up and moved to holding centres in the UK ready for deporatation. This MUST be resisted by anti-deportation activists. One of our friends, Mustapha, may have already been deported, although we are seeking firm information on this. He is a valued volunteer at the Nottingham & Notts Refugee Forum Food Group and his friends are desperately worried about him. Because of his unmasking of inhumane practices in Sudan, he faces certain torture and maybe worse if deported. Certainly others are in danger too. We’ll update you when we hear more and could anyone with news please tell us so that we can publish it).
Good news! Mustapha did not get on the plane, although it’s not over yet. We’ll keep you posted. Thanks for the messages of support seen on Indymedia UK!
Campaigners against deportation may find this House of Commons information on Sudan useful…
Over the last week hundreds of Sudanese Asylum Seekers, including 8 from Nottingham, have been rounded up and moved to holding centres in the UK ready for deporatation. This MUST be resisted by anti-deportation activists. One of our friends, Mustapha, may have already been deported, although we are seeking firm information on this. He is a valued volunteer at the Refugee Forum Food Group and his friends are desperately worried about him. Because of his unmasking of inhumane practices in Sudan, he faces certain torture and maybe worse if deported. Certainly others are in danger too. We’ll update you when we hear more and could anyone with news please tell us so that we can publish it).
Good news! Mustapha did not get on the plane, although it’s not over yet. We’ll keep you posted. Thanks for the messages of support seen on Indymedia UK!
Campaigners against deportation may find this House of Commons information on Sudan useful…
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House of Commons – 27 Mar 2007 : Column 1299
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John Bercow (Buckingham) (Con): I beg to ask leave to move the
Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 24,
to discuss a specific and important matter, namely,
“the removal by the Home Office to Khartoum of failed
asylum seekers from Darfur.”
The immediate pretext for my request is the fact that the Home Office
is minded tomorrow to remove no fewer than three such people on
flights to Khartoum, and there are plans for further removals next
week. One example that illustrates the argument comes to mind:
Mohammed Abdulhaddi Ali is a black African from the Zaghawa tribe who
has demonstrated outside the Sudanese embassy in London and who is a
known opponent of the Sudanese Government. I submit to the House that
he would be at risk of persecution if he were returned to Khartoum.
The Government have signed up to the principle of non-refoulement –
they accept that they have a responsibility not to
return people to states in which there is a serious risk of those
people being subject to the death penalty, torture, inhuman or
degrading treatment of punishment. The burden of the
Government and Home Office argument is that it is unsafe to return
people to Darfur but safe to do so to Khartoum.
My contention to this House is that there are a number
of reasons why it would not be safe to return people to Khartoum.
There is sporadic but intense fighting between the Government and a
variety of rebel forces. It would not be safe to return people to
Khartoum, where the national intelligence and security service is based
and where it is constantly on the lookout for returnees. It would not
be safe to return people who bear tribal scars and who are
immediately identifiable by hostile authorities. It would not be
safe to return people when we know from the published evidence of the
Aegis Trust of a great many cases of people who have been returned
only to be subject to intimidation, harassment or substantially
worse.
“Safe as Ghost Houses”, which was published last year by the Aegis
Trust and authored by Sarah Maguire, is explicit on the issue. The
evidence is on the record, and the Government have not issued an
intelligible or coherent response to it. It is unsafe to return
people when the Sudanese embassy is hand in glove with
the Home Office to get people out, with God knows what
consequences for those vulnerable people. It is not safe to return people
such as those whom I saw last year. I saw video evidence about a man who
was returned from this country and who was then brutally attacked
and tortured by the Sudanese authorities.
I put it to the House that we have responsibilities-the country has a
responsibility, the Government have a responsibility and this House
has a responsibility to very vulnerable people. To kick them out
would be wrong and precipitate. The matter must be debated and
debated urgently.
Mr. Speaker: I have listened carefully to what the hon. Gentleman has
said. I must give him my decision without stating any reasons. I am
afraid that I do not consider that the matter raised is appropriate
for discussion under Standing Order No. 24, and I cannot therefore
submit the application to the House.
Sudan: Darfur
House of Lords – 27 Mar 2007 : Column WA265
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House of Commons